The aim of this study is to document the early 7T micro-MRI findings of small bowel obstruction (SBO) and their evolution in the time, correlating them to the anatomopathological features.

Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n=8) were divided in 2 groups: in the first (n=4), rats underwent a surgical procedure of small bowel ligation followed by 8 hrs macroscopical monitoring; in the latter (n=4), 7T micro-MR scannings were performed before and after SBO. In both cases, injured bowel was processed for histological analysis. Rats were anesthetized with Ketamine (100 mg/kg im) and Medethomidine (0,25 mg/Kg im) injections and maintained under anesthesia during all the procedures; the body temperature was maintained at 37.0 ± 0.5 °C. Group...

Pathological findings got evident already 30 min after small bowel ligation, when a spastic reflex ileus and a chromatic change of the injured bowel were found. 7T micro-MR imaging gave early evidence (15 min) of bowel wall hyperintensity and mural thickness associated with little amount of peritoneal free fluid. These findings got worsen and worsen till the end of the monitoring period when an increase of hyperintensity, bowel wall thickness, initial loop caliber dilation and peritoneal free fluid, were found. These findings were confirmed at...

This study, based on an animal model of SBO, was designed to define a chronological characterization of SBO, to compare anatomopathological features with the 7T micro-MR findings and to investigate the possible advantages of MR in the diagnostic approach of SBO. This is the first study using a 7T micro-MR for the instrumental evaluation of a reproduced human disease in a rat animal model. This study allows to define the early MRI features of bowel occlusion and their chronological evolution, also confirmed by anatomopathological exam....

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